The abortion was performed on September 26, 1971. Though she was running a fever the day after the abortion, staff discharged her to return home.
By the time Becky got back to Arkansas and saw a doctor, her condition was critical. She died from infection on October 5.
As you can see from the graph below, abortion deaths were falling dramatically before legalization. This steep fall had been in place for decades. To argue that legalization lowered abortion mortality simply isn't supported by the data.
Sources: “Maternal Mortality Associated With Legal Abortion in New York State: July 1, 1970 – June 30, 1972,” Berger, Tietze, Pakter, Katz, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 43:3, March 1974, 325.
"Becky" Roe is one of the women Life Dynamics notes on their "Blackmun Wall" of women killed by legalized abortion.
Becky was 18 years old when she traveled from Arkansas to New York to take advantge of their recently liberalized abortion law. She was 14 weeks pregnant.
The abortion was performed on September 26, 1971. Though she was running a fever the day after the abortion, staff discharged her to return home.
By the time Becky got back to Arkansas and saw a doctor, her condition was critical. She died from infection on October 5.
As you can see from the graph below, abortion deaths were falling dramatically before legalization. This steep fall had been in place for decades. To argue that legalization lowered abortion mortality simply isn't supported by the data.
Sources: “Maternal Mortality Associated With Legal Abortion in New York State: July 1, 1970 – June 30, 1972,” Berger, Tietze, Pakter, Katz, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 43:3, March 1974, 325.